Established October 1895 See inside Sunday January 3, 2021 $2 VAT Inclusive Activities limited, but AG stresses country NEW DIRECTIVE not on lockdown ATTORNEY General Dale Marshall now between 9 p.m. and 5 a.m. at which be affected by this rule and provisions Attorney General Marshall further ex- has announced a new special cur- time no one should be on the roads of are being made for entities or individu- plained that under this two-week period few directive effective January 2 to Barbados out of their residences, unless als who are affected by this curfew to it will also be important to limit the so- January 14 between the hours of 9 they fit within two exceptions.“The first apply for exemptions. “We are allowing cial activities of which Barbadians have p.m. and 5 a.m., with some excep- – if you are an employee or member of an certain entities to continue to operate. become accustomed. “We have now de- tions. essential service – doctors, security All manufacturers, gas stations, hotels, termined that no person should host or During a press conference held at Ilaro guards, security officers, firemen, nurses, villas and other rental accommodation. attend a party,a recreational or compet- Court yesterday evening, the attorney pharmacists...” There are other establishments in itive sporting event, a banquet, ball, general stated: “We are not shutting The second, he said, which was not Barbados that need to work around the dance or reception, a meeting of a frater- down the country,we are instead putting spelt out during the earlier directive, clock that don’t fit within these three nity, private or social club or civic asso- the brakes on certain activity that we was for persons who have to leave home headings and they are therefore encour- ciation or organisation. consider to be high risk.” because of an emergency. aged to apply to www.gov.bb and request He reminded that the curfew period is He revealed that some businesses will an exemption.” AG on Page 3 Bus crawl patrons answer call to get tested YESTERDAY, patrons of a super spreader event, a Boxing Day bus crawl, answered the call of the Ministry of Health and Wellness and visited the Eunice Gibson Polyclinic. On Friday evening, January 1st, 2021, the Ministry of Health and Wellness ad- vised all persons who attended the bus crawl on Saturday, December 26, which was organised by Jason Gittens, to visit the Eunice Gibson Polyclinic at A white tent was set up outside the Eunice Gibson Polyclinic, to help facilitate the assessment and possible testing TEST on Page 5 of those who answered the call of the Ministry of Health and Wellness. 161 positive COVID cases from ‘prison sample’ OVER 150 prison inmates, prison war- Eunice Gibson Polyclinic yesterday. It antine area which can accommodate 100 “We are on top of this situation in re- dens and civilian staff of Her Majesty’s was shared that over 600 persons turned persons and the plan is to use that for lation to the prison as far as testing is Prison Dodds have tested positive for up to be tested and some from the large persons who are positive to be an isola- concerned, but it goes beyond that. We COVID-19. crowd that were present were taken to tion centre within the prison”. still have a lot of work to do. There are Chairman of the Cabinet COVID-19 the Best-Dos- Santos Lab to be tested. He added, “I think most of you would still a lot of other legs that we have to Sub-Committee, Senator Dr. Jerome Dr. Walcott also said “they have been be aware that the prison can accommo- pursue that we intend to do so and to be Walcott disclosed that “at this time over some other positive cases associated with date over 1 100 persons and there is ad- able to control the spread of the virus in 1 000 samples” have been taken from this same bus crawl, but not persons who equate space in terms of that. In addi- Barbados.” persons at the prison. This included were working at the prison, other per- tion, there is a medical facility which we Acting Chief Medical Officer, Dr. prison inmates, prison wardens and civil- sons who attended. But I can say at this believe can be outfitted to be used in Kenneth George also gave remarks. He ian staff and “161 positive cases [came] point in time is that the Ministry of terms of seriously ill persons in terms of revealed that there were 17 more cases out of that”. Health and Wellness’ team are all on the an isolation for seriously ill persons. So which were not related to those at Her He shared this information during a ground in terms of the contact tracing. we are looking at all these areas as it re- Majesty’s Prison Dodds that have been press conference yesterday,held at Ilaro Over 100 persons are involved in this lates to that.” discovered. He stated these were found Court. It was announced on Friday that process and we are working every day of Also addressing the press conference through “a combination of both some con- a bus crawl held on Boxing Day, which the entire weekend and certainly into was Minister of Health, Lt. Colonel, tact tracing and some persons coming was attended by prison officials, was con- the late hours of the evening.” Jeffrey Bostic, who reported that the en- through the Grantley Adams sidered to be a “super spreader event”. Speaking about how those who have tire prison population has been tested International Airport”. Persons who attended or were involved tested positive will be dealt with at the within the past 48-hours with the excep- in this event were asked to visit the prison, he said “there is presently a quar- tion of “those persons who were on leave”. NUMBERS on Page 5 2 • Sunday January 3, 2021 The Barbados Advocate The Barbados Advocate Sunday January 3, 2021 • 3 Face-to-face church services halted FACE-to-face church services Association, noted that it was a quires immediate and decisive all faith-based organisations op- support from the religious lead- have been halted with immedi- unanimous decision taken out attention. erate in a manner that supports ership and the Government.“We ate effect. of “an abundance of caution and “The leadership of the three the initiatives of health author- are satisfied it is in the best in- This was announced yester- in the interest of protecting the organisations has therefore ities in the country and protects terest of the health and safety of day in a joint response to the health of the country”. called on heads of individual the health and safety of their our people. spike in COVID-19 cases, with “The decision, which received churches, mosques and other members and their families, At the same time, we are ad- 45 new cases being announced 100 per cent support from the places of worship to revert to many of whom face additional monishing our people to em- on Friday evening. leadership of the Barbados virtual services where possible, vulnerabilities due to age and brace the protocols set out by The statement issued by Rev. Evangelical Association, the which would allow members to other co-morbidities.” the Government by ensuring Dr. Cicely Athill-Horsford Barbados Christian Council and engage in group interaction The organisations have also they maintain physical distanc- Chairman, Barbados Christian the Barbados Muslim without being exposed to con- called on persons to fully cooper- ing, wear masks when in public Council, Rev. Dr. Nigel Taylor – Association after a meeting with tracting the virus. ate with public health officials and engage in frequent hand President, Barbados Prime Minister Mia Amor “The BEA, BXC and BMA and to exercise patience as they sanitising using soap and water Evangelical Association and Dr. Mottley today, was in keeping recognise that given the current do so. or an alcohol-based hand sani- Abdul-Rehman Mohamed – with the stance of the bodies, escalation in the spread of It was reiterated that the de- tiser;” the BEA, BXC and BMA President, Barbados Muslim that the current situation re- COVID-19, it is imperative that cision has received 100 percent reiterated jointly. Precautionary measures being taken as COVID-19 numbers rise AG from Page 1 sultative session with the the marriage officer. faith-based organisations in “In relation to the day-to-day “In addition, you may not Barbados, to discuss the impact conduct of religious services, host or attend the social that the kinds of COVID num- the churches have agreed that event known as a bus crawl bers we are seeing will have on they will cease face to face or a lime. You may not at- their operations and the possi- functioning and therefore we tend a karaoke event, you bility of spread should they are providing in this directive may not host or attend a continue to function as nor- for the streaming and conduct picnic, you may not host or mal.” and religious services at which attend or any bus or any “Firstly, that places of reli- only three persons including other vehicular excursion.” gious worship shall only open the officiant should be pres- As it relates to the con- for the conduct of funeral serv- ent.” tentious bus crawls which ices which shall be attended by It was reminded that the led to the super spreader more than ten mourners, one COVID 19 directive of 2020 is event, the attorney general officiant, the funeral director still in place.